Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issues two types of bear hunting licenses. A Class A bear license allows the license holder to shoot and kill bear and to exercise the privileges of a Class B bear license. A Class B bear license allows the license holder to assist a Class A license holder in pursuing bear, to bait bear, and to train dogs to pursue bear (dog training); but it does not allow the license holder to actually shoot at or kill bear.

This bill expands the privileges of a Class B bear license. The bill authorizes the holder of a Class B bear license to shoot and kill a bear that was shot, but not killed, by another hunter holding a Class A bear license in the same hunting party if killing the bear is necessary to protect the safety of other members of the hunting party or the public. The bill also allows the holder of a Class B bear license to pursue a bear, provided that the holder of the Class B bear license does not shoot or kill the bear, unless the public safety circumstances for killing a bear shot at by another hunter apply.

This bill also requires DNR to allow a person who holds a Class B bear license to engage in dog training during any part of an open season in which DNR allows a Class A bear license holder to hunt bear with the use of a dog. The bill also eliminates the requirement that holders of a Class B bear license attach a back tag to their outermost garment when engaging in the activities authorized under that license.

Current law exempts a person who is under the age of 12 years and who engages in the activities authorized by a Class B bear license from holding a Class B bear license. This bill extends this exemption so that it applies to any person who is under the age of 16 years. The bill also creates a new exemption that authorizes a person to engage in the activities authorized by a Class B bear license without holding the license during the third Saturday in August and the immediately following Sunday.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB72, s. 11Section
1. 29.184 (3) (br) 1m. of the statutes is created to read:

SB72,2,32
29.184 (3) (br) 1m. Pursue a bear, provided that the licensee does not shoot, 3shoot at, capture, take, or kill the bear, except as provided under subd. 4.

SB72, s. 24Section
2. 29.184 (3) (br) 4. of the statutes is created to read:

SB72,2,95
29.184 (3) (br) 4. Shoot, for the purpose of killing, a bear that was shot, but not 6killed by another hunter holding a Class A bear hunting license in the same hunting 7party, if the person for whom the bear is killed possesses a current unused bear 8carcass tag that is authorized for use on the bear killed and if killing the bear is 9necessary to protect the safety of the members of the hunting party or others.

SB72, s. 310Section
3. 29.184 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB72,2,1411
29.184 (3m)Open season requirements. If the department establishes an open 12season that includes a period during which a Class A bear license holder is allowed 13to hunt bear with the use of a dog, the department shall allow a Class B bear license 14holder to engage in the activities specified in sub. (3) (br) 3. during that period.

SB72,3,4129.184 (4)Use of dogs. While a person is using a dog to hunt bear or to engage 2in any of the activities specified in sub. (3) (br) 1. to 3.4., the person shall keep on 3his or her person any tag required for the dog under s. 95.21 (2) (f), 174.053 (2) or 4174.07 (1) (e).

SB72,3,129
29.184 (5) (b) If a disabled person holds either a Class A or a Class B bear 10license, a person who accompanies and assists the disabled person may engage in the 11activities authorized under sub. (3) (br) 1. to 3.
4. without holding a Class B bear 12license.

SB72, s. 713Section
7. 29.184 (5) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB72,3,1614
29.184 (5) (c) Any person may engage in the activities authorized under sub. 15(3) (br) 1. to 4. during the 3rd Saturday in August and the immediately following 16Sunday without holding a Class B bear license.

SB72,3,2319
29.184 (8) (a) The department shall issue a bear carcass tag to each person who 20is issued a Class A bear license. A Except as provided under par. (b), a person who 21kills a bear shall immediately validate and attach the carcass tag to the bear. The 22carcass tag shall be attached and validated according to rules promulgated by the 23department.

SB72, s. 924Section
9. 29.184 (8) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

SB72,4,3129.184 (8) (b) A person who kills a bear under sub. (3) (br) 4. shall ensure that 2the person for whom the bear is killed attaches a current validated bear carcass tag 3in the manner provided under par. (a).

SB72,4,1910
29.971 (11m) (a) For shooting, shooting at, killing, taking, catching or 11possessing a bear without a valid Class A bear license, or for possessing a bear which 12does not have a carcass tag attached or possessing a bear during the closed season, 13by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 or by imprisonment for not 14more than 6 months or both for the first violation, or by a fine of not more than 15$10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 9 months or both for any subsequent 16violation, and, in addition, the court shall revoke all hunting approvals issued to the 17person under this chapter and shall prohibit the issuance of any new hunting 18approval under this chapter to the person for 3 years. This paragraph does not apply 19to a person who shoots at or kills a bear as authorized under s. 29.184 (3) (br) 4.

SB72,4,2421
29.971 (11m) (b) Except as provided under par. (a), for the violation of any 22provision of this chapter relating to bear hunting, to the activities specified in s. 2329.184 (3) (br) 1. to 3.4., or to the validation of a bear carcass tag or registration of 24a bear, by a forfeiture of not more than $1,000.